Abstract

The in vivo response of a transplantable mouse tumour, Sarcoma 180 to AK-2123 (AK), local irradiation (RT) and local hyperthermia, as influenced by a vasoactive drug, hydralazine (HDZ), was assessed on the basis of tumour cure (complete response CR), volume doubling time (VDT), regrowth delay (RD) and animal survival up to 120 days. A single ip injection of 200 mg/kg b.wt. AK produced more than 15 per cent CR. Combination of any two agents resulted in a better response than the single agent treatments. AK in combination with 43 degrees C, 30 min (HT) was more effective than HT combination with 10 Gy. The presence of 5 mg/kg HDZ, injected immediately after 5 Gy, in combination with AK increased the therapeutic effect over that produced by AK+10Gy. Combination of all the three agents (AK+10Gy+HT) produced 100 per cent CR and prolonged disease free animal survival. A similar response could be obtained by the presence of HDZ with a lower radiation dose of 5 Gy in combination with AK and HT (AK+5Gy+HDZ+HT). This multimodality treatment offers the possibility of further reduction in the doses of individual agents, and in the possible side effects on normal tissues without compromising the tumour cure effect.